Reacting to Dwivedi's comment, the Congress president categorically said, "caste-based reservations must continue". She added that the system of reservation was introduced by the Congress and it would continue to be championed by the party.

Dwivedi had called for an end to reservation on caste lines and urged party vice-presidentRahul Gandhi to introduce quota for financially weaker sections bringing all communities under its ambit.

On Tuesday, Janardan Dwivedi said, "This (reservation on caste lines) should have come to an end. Why it did not happen so far was because vested interests got into the process. Does the real needy person even among the dalits and backward castes get the benefits of reservation? Those in the upper crust of these communities only avail the benefits. There is a difference between social justice and casteism.

"The concept of social justice has now turned into casteism...I believe there is a need to dismantle this ....Since Rahul Gandhiji is seeking views of people directly for the party manifesto, I am now urging him that he should take a bold decision."

Dwivedi added, "Reservation on the basis of economic condition of people should be talked about. He is the future leader of Congress. Only one, who rises above all this and breaks the boundaries of caste and communalism will be the future leader of the country. Only then a society on the basis of equality can be built."

Justifying his pitch for ending caste-based reservations, he said the situation has changed from the past and "now no person has the moral courage to publicly endorse casteism. Reacting to Dwivedi's comment, the Congress president categorically said, "caste-based reservations must continue". She added that the system of reservation was introduced by the Congress and it would continue to be championed by the party.

Dwivedi had called for an end to reservation